Thursday 31 January 2008

Whew!

I just did Four Fast Miles with a pair of giggling grandaughters. I don't think my miles were as focused or effective as they might have been on my own, but it was a lot of fun laughing with them, especially when I had a gas leak that threatened to slay them. :) They hid beneath the bed and behind the curtain in our bedroom to escape the fumes! :) I'm sorry, this is probably way too much information!

Shan tells me that my breaking out face is the toxins that are stored in fat, being released through the skin when sweating! Therefore breaking out is a good sign. Yeay! I didn't know that but it's so encouraging.

Wednesday 30 January 2008

The Long Haul

Tuesday mornings are the perfect "weigh in" mornings for me. They are one day removed from the weekend and they are the start of "cell group day," which is a day when our home is full of people in the evening, gathering for a meal and conversation about God.

Yesterday I also had breakfast with my friend Irene. Bacon, eggs, toast and home fries! Because of that breakfast, I just had fruit for lunch; not that I needed lunch! Then for supper I had made a pot of delicous chili, with salad and a loaf of crusty bread. Oh, I made apple pie, too, for my friend Ann's neice Samantha, who is coming to the Alpha series we are holding in our home, and had mentioned that she'd come if there was pie.

In spite of many indulgences yesterday, I was only up a pound this morning. I am finding that the same principle holds true for weight loss as the stock market, it's what happens over the long haul that counts, not the odd "blip" up or down!

I had no time to exercise yesterday, or today, but tomorrow I must!

Libby, thank you for the thought of 4 pounds of butter melting off me in a big greasy puddle. So that's why my face is breaking out all of a sudden.

And Shan, I hope the belly dancing is going well. Onward fellow fat fighters!

Tuesday 29 January 2008

Checkpoint # 4

Hey! 156.6 today!



January 1st:161.2

January 8th: 159.4

January 15th 158

January 22nd 157.2

January 29th 156.6


This may seem like a mere trickle, but I am happy with my trickle!

Libby and Shan, I cheer you on! Shan with your belly dancing and Libby with your every effort in the direction of health and beauty. Health is beautiful! Onward.

Monday 28 January 2008

Failing Spectacularly

Dear Shan,
Don't be discouraged. If all you can manage today is to resolve to get fit, that is still better than throwing in the towel.

You would have laughed if you could have seen Paul and I after we bought our first exercise DVD several years ago.

We put it on and sat on the couch and watched it with curiosity. We could not imagine being so robust! :)

It was only the One Mile Workout, but the next day, when we tried it, we did it very gently and sweated and puffed a lot.

Trust me, we've had our fitness ups and downs, but I'm a 57 year old woman. If I slide now, who knows if I will ever get back up! You have youth on your side and I know you can do it.

Sunday 27 January 2008

Being careful yesterday had the result that I was back on track on the scales this morning. That was encouraging. I would hate to lose ground.

This afternoon I did the Fast Four Mile workout. I needed to, having been to our granddaughter Emily's 2nd birthday party, which meant celebrating with many treats!

Onward and forward!

Saturday 26 January 2008

Saturday Thoughts

This morning my weight was one pound up from my Tuesday weigh in. I know weight fluctuates and it doesn't mean it's really going back up, but I have learned a few things this week.

1. Cause and effect! Three pieces of carrot cake will have an effect, even if you do exercise.

2. Licking the bowl when I've made Amish Friendship Bread is not a good thing to do! It tastes so good, but unfortunately everything counts!

3. If I want to have a slice of the Amish Friendship Bread, I should give up something else as I did this morning. I went without our weekly pancakes and ate melon for breakfast. Then I had a piece of AFB for a snack. I did have another piece after supper but I think that if I stop eating now I might be ok. We'll see!

Paul and I are giving our bodies a break today. We'll be back on the exercise track tomorrow.

Friday 25 January 2008

Checking In

It's been a good day!

I had a vacation day today and went to the hairdresser in the afternoon. Jamie, my hairdresser, works out with a trainer and she is looking fantastic. It felt good to be over 3 weeks into my journey of fitness.

I made Amish Friendship Bread tonight. And I couldn't resist licking the bowl!

We did the Four Fast Miles thing tonight, but my ankles hurt when I jogged so I did the modified version. It's still a great workout, modified or not!

Yeay, it's the weekend!

Thursday 24 January 2008

Happy Thursday!

Well, friends, today was an "administration focus day" at my home. This meant that three of us worked in the blessed quiet of this place, away from some of the distractions we would face if we were in our offices. Of course we could still distract one another, but we did well, I think, at quietly working away. At times it felt like being in an exam at school.

What does this have to do with fitness you might ask. Well, yesterday we had a staff mini retreat and there was left over carrot cake. I brought it home for our lunch dessert today. Oh my!! Pretty well fatal.

I had a piece for dessert and two pieces for supper.

So, after supper I knew that I had to take myself off upstairs and do those Fast Four Miles.

We were looking after our granddaughters, Tiffany-Amber and Victoria, while their parents were out for a bit, so I said, "Would you like to come and do some exercises?"

"Exercises?!" they both cried, with excitement. It was as if I'd suggested that we engage in some delicious adventure.

Up we went, I in my black yoga pants and t shirt and they in their cosy flannel pajamas.

Tiffany-Amber said as she jogged, "This will help me train for track!"

Eyes shining, cheeks pink, hair swinging and much giggling made this four miles the most fun yet. Their parents arrived home after the first mile and they had to go to bed, but the rest went so quickly and I didn't have to modify at all tonight.

It feels good to have undone at least one piece of carrot cake.

I hope that my Slide Friends are doing well too!

Wednesday 23 January 2008

Week 3 Check In

January 1st:161.2

January 8th: 159.4

January 15th 158

January 22nd 157.2.......Lost: 4 1b

36
31
42

Morrocan Vegetarian Ragout ~ As Promised!

I haven't worked out the calories per serving of this recipe, but I don't think it's very high. The only ingredients with much in the way of calories are chickpeas and raisins, and it's not as though there are large quantities of them in each serving. There is virtually no fat except 1 tbsp oil and some in the chickpeas. Bulgur wheat provides the fibre. This really is yummy. Although it originated as a vegetarian dish, I add cubed, cooked chicken.

Moroccan Vegetable Ragout
1 tbsp oil
1 medium onion, sliced
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1.5 tsp coriander powder
1.5 tsp cumin
1 tsp salt
.5 tsp ginger
.25 tsp cayenne pepper
4 cups cubed, peeled yams
2.5 cups water
1 can (19 oz.) chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1 can (14 oz.) stewed tomatoes
1 cup bulgur wheat, rinsed and drained
.5 cup raisins
1 cup chopped fresh cilantro

In Dutch oven, saute onion in oil until tender and golden (7-10 min.). Add the seasonings and cook, stirring, for one minute. Add yams, water, chickpeas, tomatoes, wheat, raisins (and cubed chicken if using). Bring to boil. Reduce heat. Cover and simmer, stiring occasionally, until yams and wheat are tender and most of the liquid is absorbed, about 25-30 minutes. (I do it in a slow cooker for a few hours.) Stir in cilantro just before serving.

Audrey Dorsch

Monday 21 January 2008

Tonight I did the Fast Four Miles but did the modified version for a good part of it! I don't know why but sometimes I just have more energy to do the "boosted" version, which is actually jogging. Nevertheless I worked up a sweat over the 47 minutes of exercise and I don't think I'm doing badly for a 57 year old woman who wants to believe that if you exercise, you can turn back the physical clock 10 years.

Today I drove to Huntsville and back--about 4 hours of driving. I didn't feel drowsy. That nap yesterday must have really helped!

I didn't do badly eating wise today either. Tomorrow is my weekly weigh in and I'll take my measurements too!

How's it going out there! :)

Sunday 20 January 2008

Hey Friends

Hey Friends,
I had 8 hours sleep last night! Yeay. It felt soooo good.

Then this afternoon I sat down to read a book and felt irresistably drawn to close my eyes. I lay down, and as some background music played, of which I was dimly aware, I sank into a deep sleep and ended up having a 2 hour nap. I must have really needed it.

I really, really didn't have time to exercise today or I would have. I had an article to finish--and it's done!

Of course if I hadn't fallen asleep...but I think it was all good.

I probably nibbled a bit more than I should have, but no big bowls of icecream or fatty desserts.

I hope all is well with everyone else.

Saturday 19 January 2008

Checking in to say that this has been a good, good day.

I had about 6.5 hours sleep and got up at 6.30 ready to roll!

Saturday mornings always involve pancakes here, with family. I considered skipping eating any and sticking to my yummy organic cereal from Costco, but instead I had one large crepe rolled up, and instead of sugar and lemon juice, English style, I ate it plain and enjoyed the simple taste of the home made pancake. I had an orange too. That felt like a great compromise and it was painless.

I exercised tonight and am sitting here sweaty still! You really wanted to know that didn't you. 4 Fast Miles with Leslie Sansome does that to you.

I must say that it's very motivating to lose weight when I look at myself in yoga pants with my hair tied back. There's no hiding the fact that there is work to be done! I had "let myself go" as they used to say years ago! Slowly but surely the pounds crept on, but this morning the scales told a hopeful tale. I wonder how I'll do this Tuesday when I record my weight here for the third time since January 1st!

Anyone joining me on the quest to vibrant health--let me know how you're doing too. It's encouraging to have friends on the journey.

Friday 18 January 2008

Tonight

Last night I managed to get to bed half an hour earlier than midnight, which, I'm ashamed to say has been my psychological curfew of late! I often find myself lingering at the computer beyond even that--it's not unusual to creep to bed at 12.30 or 12.45.

So last night to be in bed at 11.30 felt good, and I was up at 6.15 when Paul's alarm went off, having shut off my own at 5.00.

Even that half hour made an difference to how I felt. Imagine if I managed to get to bed by 10.30 tonight. What a good start to the weekend that would be. Well, that's my aim, friends. I'll let you know tomorrow how it went.

I didn't exercise tonight because I did last night and tonight I had worship to prepare for Sunday, and Alpha reading to do in preparation for the start of the 12 week course being held in our home.

I had a healthy eating day! Yeay! For supper Paul and I split a Mortimer's English meat pie after I used my WW point calculator and found one pie was 10 points! We had mashed potatoes and vegetables with it and it was plenty for us.

I'm encouraged to be sharing the journey with a friend or two--maybe even three. Let's cheer one another on and let me know how you're doing!

Thursday 17 January 2008

How I'm Doing

I'm not sure anyone in the world but me is reading this, but it's good to have a place to record my journey of fitness. It's helping.

Paul and I have been exercising regularly since January 1st. Paul is more regular than me, and probably exercises 5 days out of 7 with Lesley Sansome, doing her Fast Four Mile workout with "boosted intervals."

I tend to manage it at least 3 times a week, and it's helping me to burn calories and eel fitter and more energetic.

Exercising also allows you to splurge a little with eating and not pay for it in weight gain as much, but I think it's time to cash in my exercise boost in weight loss rather than eating treats!

Since I last wrote about rest I haven't managed to honour my body with what it needs in hours of down, restorative time and that's another goal to work on. I feel and look so much better when I'm rested.

More soon!

Tuesday 15 January 2008

Week 2 Check In

January 1st:161.2

January 8th: 159.4

January 15th 158.......Lost: 3.2 1b

Monday 14 January 2008

The Weekend Survived

The weekend, which included a delicious roast beef and Yorkshire pudding dinner with dessert, was great.

Exercising is the key. Leslie Sansome says that her Fast Four Mile Interval Training workout, burns a whole meal off. That is great because it means that there is grace for a treat here and there, as long as I don't go on a binge!

On top of that benefit, exercise truly is energizing.

The other thing is that if you eat healthily the whole week, you can actually have one day when you eat what you like and still lose weight.

Tonight I wore a long skinny t shirt over my yoga pants, to exercise in. It showed all my midriff bulges off to perfection, which was quite motivating.

I still am not exactly light footed when exercising, but I know I will build endurance if I keep going!

Friday 11 January 2008

A Surprise

Last night we had Alpha training at church and so there was no time for exercise, but we did Leslie Sansome's 4 mile workout on Wednesday night; the one we bought on Sunday, with interval training. It is pretty brutal since she does a "boosted walk," which is code for jogging! I did it for the first time on Sunday night and definitely felt the pull of gravity, which is probably why I called this blog, Stopping the Slide."

Anyway, it was chilly today, so I wore my zippered boots to work and I usually have not worn them lately if I can help it, because, I hate to admit this; it has been hard to reach down and pull the zippers up or down. My back seemed to be fused half way down and so I would have to get into "accommodating positions" to accomplish the task. Today without realizing what I was doing I bent down easily to take off my boots. I was so excited that for the rest of the day, every time I bent down to pick up a piece of paper, or later, laundry to fold, I reveled in the new flexibility in my back.

This is so unexpected. On Sunday as I was doing my clumsy prance--that's what it is--in the bedroom, to Leslie Sansome, I could feel something in my lower right back. That's where I had a problem going on. I wondered if I was going to aggravate it, but instead all that jumping around seems to have loosened my back up.

I am grateful!

Thursday 10 January 2008

Sleep

One of my bad habits is losing track of time at the end of the day and not going to bed in time so that I wake up tired in the morning.

Last night I stayed up until a ridiculous hour creating this blog amongst other things. Woke up exhausted and have been tired all day.

Tonight there was Alpha training at church. In the dark I drifted off to sleep but Paul spotted it and gently rubbed my shoulder to wake me up!

Our bodies need enough hours of sleep so that all of their work of recovery, rest and renewal can take place. Last night I probably had at most, 5 hours. I hope to do better tonight.

Wednesday 9 January 2008

It's Now or Never

I'm starting this a little later than I'd intended, but pretend that it's January 1st!

This is the place that I plan to record my journey of healthy eating and fitness; my struggles, failures and successes. I hope that others will join me on the journey and that we can be a mutual encouragement.

I'm not part of a formal support group in these areas at the moment, although I am a lifetime member of Weight Watchers. At Weight Watchers I lost 27 1b 5 years ago, but have regained 21 back. I know how to eat healthily; WW taught me so much and the principles are excellent.

My eating problems? I had slidden into mindless eating, not taking into account portion size.

I was eating late at night for energy when I should just go to bed. At those times I have a bad habit of binging on the candy bars we have in the cupboard for our grandchildren.

Just after Christmas I realized that if I didn't do something to "stop the slide," I would be back where I started. My clothes are all really, really tight and I have unsightly bulges.

Paul was also on his own slide into excess weight and lack of fitness. Something had to be done.

Since January 1st we've been encouraging one another. We bought some new Leslie Sansome, Walk Away the Pounds DVD's and we've been exercising as often as possible.

Today I actually threw out a left-over dessert that was in my fridge, but which I would have eaten before. It was a trifle!

I want to chronicle our journey, for good or ill! Are you with us?

Tuesday 8 January 2008

Week 1 Check In

Starting Weight:161.2
Today's Weight: 159.4
Down: 1.8 !

Tuesday 1 January 2008

Starting Point

January 1st 2008
My weight is 161.2 lb.

Measurements:

37

31.5

42

Thigh 24.5

The way I feel is: heavy! My thighs feel like tree trunks and my face is turning into a round moon and when I wear anything tight around the midriff I have bulges showing. It's time to do something to change the upward spiral.